Sprint sues to block AT&T/T-Mobile merger

Sprint announced on Tuesday that it has filed a lawsuit with a federal court in the U.S. District of Columbia in an effort to block AT&T’s planned $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom. The suit is related to the Department of Justice’s lawsuit, which was filed on August 31st. “Sprint opposes AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile,” Sprint’s vice president of litigation Suzan Haller said. “With today’s legal action, we are continuing that advocacy on behalf of consumers and competition, and expect to contribute our expertise and resources in proving that the proposed transaction is illegal.” Sprint argued that the merger will “harm retail consumers and corporate customers by causing higher prices and less innovation” and said it will “entrench the duopoly of AT&T and Verizon” by allowing those two carriers 90% of U.S. wireless profits and more than three quarters of the market. Sprint also said the merger would “harm Sprint and other independent wireless carriers” and would give AT&T control of backhaul, roaming and wireless spectrum. AT&T responded to the DOJ’s suit last week and said the deal is in the best interest of consumers and the “facts will prevail in court.” Read on for the full press release from Sprint.

Sprint Files Suit to Block Proposed AT&T and T-Mobile Transaction

WASHINGTON (BUSINESS WIRE), September 06, 2011 – Sprint Nextel [NYSE:S] today brought suit against AT&T, Inc., AT&T Mobility, Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile seeking to block the proposed acquisition as a violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in the District of Columbia as a related case to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) suit against the proposed acquisition.

“Sprint opposes AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile,” said Susan Z. Haller, vice president-Litigation, Sprint. “With today’s legal action, we are continuing that advocacy on behalf of consumers and competition, and expect to contribute our expertise and resources in proving that the proposed transaction is illegal.”

Sprint’s lawsuit focuses on the competitive and consumer harms which would result from a takeover of T-Mobile by AT&T. The proposed takeover would:

Harm retail consumers and corporate customers by causing higher prices and less innovation.

Entrench the duopoly control of AT&T and Verizon, the two “Ma Bell” descendants, of the almost one-quarter of a trillion dollarwireless market. As a result of the transaction, AT&T and Verizon would control more than three-quarters of that market and 90 percent of the profits.

Harm Sprint and the other independent wireless carriers. If the transaction were to be allowed, a combined AT&T and T-Mobile would have the ability to use its control over backhaul, roaming and spectrum, and its increased market position to exclude competitors, raise their costs, restrict their access to handsets, damage their businesses and ultimately to lessen competition.

,wow,. I just got a $829.99 iPad2 for only $103.37 and my mom got a $1499.99 HDTV for only $251.92, they are both coming with USPS tomorrow. I would be an idiot to ever pay full retail prîces at places like Walmart or Bestbuy. I sold a 37″ HDTV to my boss for $600 that I only paid $78.24 for.
I use EgoWîn.com

Anonymous

Dear brokem monkey…GO BACK TO THE ZOO…

http://twitter.com/myz06vette Mike Beauchamp

Never been a huge fan of Sprint, but my hatred for AT&T and T-Mobile runs deeper. Go Sprint!

Anonymous

Lol, Sprint can purchase and DESTROY companies like Nextel but no one else can do what they think is right for their company.

Stop being a crybaby Sprint and do something innovative without big brother.

Anonymous

Because buying Nextel didn’t turn them into a monopoly in the mobile space.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

A monopoly (mono=one) exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity.

How would AT&T and T-mobile create a monopoly?

michael gnankou

ATT would be the only GSM carrier in the US if the acquire T-mobile.

Anonymous

This article states that the merger would make a Duopoly that would consist of Verizon Wireless and AT&T where those two will literally command the market space.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

Everyone is going to LTE anyway. Still not a monopoly. There are other wireless phone companies. Doesn’t matter that they operate on another type of frequency. They do the same thing, just another way.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

The article is bias, a duapoly is BS. Sprint/nextel is a nation wide carrier with service everywhere in the US, as is Verizon and AT&T. It’s at least a Triopoly if not more.

http://www.facebook.com/colin.yapp Colin Yapp

Actually it does matter because contrary to the unbridled unregulated markets that the GOP and tea baggers seem to love, all of the companies outside of Verizon and ATT will not be able to compete. Wireless network are very very expensive and the cost of building one nationwide, from the group up, needs investers. No one is going to put money into a startup to compete in an industry when you have two behemoths that control 83 pct mkt share and 90 pct of the profits. Sprint has made a lot of mistakes but I still use them and I am very happy with their service. They all of us a favor, including them, by going out of their way to stop this anti competitive move.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

I love that Tea Baggers. That’s your way of making fun of people who believe that the government waste too much money.

Scott Duffy

“Everyone is going to LTE anyway. Still not a monopoly. There are other
wireless phone companies. Doesn’t matter that they operate on another
type of frequency. They do the same thing, just another way.”

WRONG! It’s not just the frequency, but the technology. A CDMA only device can not run on a GSM network and vice verse. Now what do you think happens when “most” international people do when visiting the US? They’re probably going to need a GSM network (at least, for the next few years), and if AT&T is the only GSM network, then they can charge any amount they want. You have to look at the bigger picture too!

http://www.facebook.com/colin.yapp Colin Yapp

No what I am saying is that we cannot have totally unregulated markets. Contrary to what the right wants to believe a wide open unregulated free market is ripe for abuse. The governments position should be one of a neutral party that acts as a check and balance to the system. Unfortunately, we have practically set the constitution on fire and sold our government to corporation and lobbyists. How AT&T lost this one I would never know. Maybe because of all the money they gave they figured they would have an easy ride. However, the consumers prevailed.

Anonymous

Let me explain this to you and the other that don’t get it in terms that even my neighbor’s cat would understand:

Right now there are two (2) nationwide GSM service providers in the United States (where we live). They are called AT&T and T-Mobile. If AT&T buys T-Mobile that leaves only one (1) GSM service provide in the United States.

See 2-1=1

Having only only one (1) provider of a product or service is called a “Monopoly”. A “Monopoly” is bad because if you need that particular product or service you have only one (1) place to get it. That means that they are free to charge you whatever their little heart desires and there is nothing you can do about it.

However, the goverement can regulate how much they can charge you. But that makes folks called ‘Republicans” and “Tea Party” members upset because they believe that big companies should not be regulated.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

@google-7b0e9969d1f638cfebc82bd1f0b2903d:disqus I know they are different, and they don’t work on the same type of frequency. You’re missing the point, even if AT&T was to become the only GSM carrier. Sprint and Verizon both offer Cellphone service. That’s the point. Most consumers don’t know the difference between GSM and CDMA. I would be willing to bet that 90% or more of consumers don’t walk into AT&T and say I want a GSM carrier that’s why I am here.

They just want cellphone service that works.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

@facebook-1442912298:disqus we have a lot of tax and regulation all aspects of the private business here in the USA. More than we ever had. That’s the biggest problem.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

@TheRobotDevil:disqus I see you what you’re saying, but they are not the only cellphone carrier. You’re logic is retarded.

Not to mention. When T-Mobile goes bankrupt, then AT&T will be the only GSM carrier. You see 2-1=1. Fucking tard.

http://www.facebook.com/colin.yapp Colin Yapp

@iEric:disqus The issue is bigger than taxes and regulations. That is just he surface stuff these companies use for those that aren’t aware to feel sorry for them. The larger they are the less they pay in taxes and have the ability to avoid paying taxes entirely by offshoring. Regulatory wise there are some areas can be adjusted but generally what is out there makes sense. This mantra of wanting to pay lower and lower taxes is going to hamstring this country in terms of infrastructure development. As you can see our crumbling bridges, tunnels, old rail infrastructure, antiquated air traffic control systems and list goes on. Yeah keep lowering those taxes…..

Bullet Tooth Tony

Wow… ok. Let me jump in here. GSM is not a technology. It is a standards association. Verizon is a GSM carrier and long-standing GSM member. There’s your choice, it uses CDMA technology for 3G, yes, yet follows the GSM standards for 4G and has long been a member of the GSMA… go figure, your entire theory has been destroyed. To add to it, in a few weeks, Sprint will announce they’re going to be switching to LTE. That will make them another GSM carrier. Another choice. The list doesn’t stop there, there’s plenty of other choices through regional carriers and MVNO’s. None are disappearing.

Further, the competition is in cellular phone service. So save your TDMA vs CDMA arguments to a word perfect document, copy it to a 3.5″ floppy disk, hop in your DiLaurean… and then accelerate to 85 mph to generate the 1.21 gigawatts needed to travel back in time to 1990 when the battle between TDMA and CDMA actually mattered and people cared.

Anonymous

Wow, you don’t get it…you really don’t get it, so you have to resort to swearing like a child.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

@7c0cc0fac3083d0d187aad15ce368ae3:disqus A little confused on what you’re trying to tell me. I understand exactly what you’re saying and it’s basically what I was trying to say. I understand cellular technology pretty well. Not sure what you are trying to say. Where does what you are saying blow my arguement out of the water? you basically confirmed what I said.

Northaustintx

Drink some anti-freeze PLEZE!

Bullet Tooth Tony

@iEric:disqus – to explain, yours is the last post you can actually reply to. I was supporting you, and correcting Scott Duffy, Robot, et al. If I use the @ symbols, it blows my work computer up. Right now, I can reply properly on my home PC. My bust. I’ll say something like (at) blahblahblah the next time I reply to such a long trail. ;-)

Anonymous

@iEric i dont think he was talking to you lol

Anonymous

was nextel ever ranked in the top 3? no i don’t think so. take a crash course in economics and you’ll see why this is bad for the wireless industry and worst of all, bad for us. I, on the other hand, appreciate Sprint for not giving up in this battle. Screw ATT.

Anonymous

I don’t recall saying Nextel was ranked in the top 3 but okay.

Anonymous

no but it turned my Nextel into shit when they did….im down with ATT now, lets get it.

http://twitter.com/GRZLA Grizzly Atoms

So innovation is limiting the choice of the consumer? Someone get this scholar a PHD!

Anonymous

At best you sound STUPID…Hating on sprint because they choose to take stand or choose to stand for something does not make them the villian here. At&t is a poor mismanaged company who can not SUPPORT THERE NETWORK without purchasing some one else spectrum..PISS ON AT&T AND PISS ON YOU

Bullet Tooth Tony

Hahahaha… Southern Pacific Railroad “Intelligent” Network for Telecommunications are making fools out of themselves. Way to waste money, and write down on paper that you can’t compete on both price and service. By stating they are currently a duopoly and will further entrench themselves as such, you’ve marginalized your own product as it stands.

Anonymous

Ok, so if the acquisition gets blocked. Then what? Deutsche Telekom wants out of the market and wants to dump T-Mobile. If and when T-Mobile goes under then, then there’s a fire sale of resources and we’re still left with 3 carriers, and all those people looking for somewhere to go.

If the acquisition went thru and TMo customers don’t like it, they go to Verizon and Sprint anyway.

The net result is still the same, with the shareholders getting screwed. We’ll end up with 3 carriers, Verizon and AT&T still being a virtual duopoly, with Sprint in 3rd. We won’t get the innovation promised or competition promised.

I’m not saying that AT&T/TMobile marriage is a match made in heaven. However, even looking at my 401k, I’d much rather have TMobile’s assets bought for SOMETHING of value vs. a fire sale price.

http://www.facebook.com/colin.yapp Colin Yapp

T-mobile is not a corner shop and rarely would we see a business of this size but on a fire sale. Someone will either buy them up entirely or there may be some sell off of assets but it will be mostly kept whole.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

Doesn’t matter what you or I think. We are basically going to get flamed for supporting a company getting bought rather than see them bleed money every day. The thing is people hate AT&T so much they hate to see them grow. Verizon is allowed to grow, but not AT&T.

Note that I am not a supporter of the AT&T merger for another other reason, besides the reason I don’t see a legal reason to block it.

Anonymous

I’m no longer an AT&T customer. :)

I agree, there’s no legal reason to block it. AT&T’s network sucks and they need to do something about it. An acquisition is an easier way to do it, especially when it can actually deliver better coverage much more quickly (in theory anyway).

AT&T really isn’t competitive in their network now … the only thing they really have going for them, IMO, is international compatibility. T-Mo’s and Sprint’s aren’t the greatest, so that really only leaves Verizon. It’s no wonder Verizon doesn’t care either way. If AT&T doesn’t get the merger, they’re still the kings of the hill in terms of quality and they can probably scavenge some of T-Mobile’s assets when DT finally closes up shop. If AT&T does get the merger, Verizon’s in great shape to compete.

Sprint and T-Mo are bleeding for a reason. If we really don ‘t want Verizon taking over, we need a strong and competitive AT&T.

A duopoly can compete effectively. When AMD was really competitive with Intel, things were really good in the CPU sector. Great prices, each company trying to outdo the other, and we got really good value for our money. Now that AMD’s fallen on tough times and isn’t that competitive, Intel can pretty much do whatever it wants and charge what it wants. We don’t see the innovation as quickly any more, and chips are arguably more expensive.

In my area, Comcast and Verizon duke it out all the time for TV, Internet and phone service. They compete fiercely, and we’re always getting better speeds and better prices. Duopolies aren’t inherently bad things if the companies are competitive.

If they’re such bad things, then they really need to start smacking around incumbent cable and phone companies as those have existed for MUCH, MUCH longer and have done far more damage.

Guest

Sprint really needs to worry about there own network and customers. The fact is that sprint is garbage and they know it. Just leave at&t/t-moblie alone and worry about trying to fix your own network.

Anonymous

They’re doing both…

Anonymous

Actually check your facts, Sprint is actually really good to me and my family. I get an English speaking voice if I do have a problem, they always follow up to see if the problem was corrected and they are
making great strides to offer better phones. I also get great connectivity where I live so this crap about
sprint being garbage is garbage its self. Oh and AT&T is garbage! they know that they are trying to go
for a duopoly, why hide it?…..they cap you at 2 gigs per month….oh joy! Nothing out there better.

Anonymous

Yes, they’ve learned to speak English pretty well in Mumbai.

That was a big strike against them when I looked at switching from AT&T.

Anonymous

When you only have 2 carriers left and your rates increase people like you who support this merger and think that the government should stay out of it will be the first ones screaming.

Anonymous

Comcast and Verizon are pretty competitive in the cable, internet and phone arenas. I keep getting better services at better prices despite there really only being two games in town.

Collusion has to occur in a duopoly in order for it to be detrimental, or the other competitor has to really suck. You have AMD and Intel in processors. When AMD was competitive, you had Intel on their toes. Both companies put out great chips, at great prices, more frequently and cheaper. Once AMD stopped really being competitive, THEN we had a problem. Intel slowed down innovation. Prices aren’t as good.

Having 2 companies isn’t necessarily a bad thing. More competition isn’t a bad thing, but smaller companies may also end up being niche players and leaving the main competition to the bigger ones. In graphics cards, you had Nvidia and ATI/AMD as the top dogs, even though S3 and Matrox have been around for quite awhile. The smaller 2 are more niche players, but meet a need. This is more or less where we’re at now in the wireless business, but Sprint and T-Mo are bigger players.

What we’re looking at is one looking to get out of the business, and the other bleeding red ink, leaving AT&T and Verizon at the top of the heap.

I have to to see any real evidence that the merger would cause prices to go up. I’ve seen some cite tiered data and high text costs. Well, texting has always been a cash cow for the mobile carriers. It costs them nothing and they can sell it for a lot. No surprise they’re trying to milk it. Data tiering has come up more because of network congestion, lack of spectrum, and backhaul issues. Even look in Europe where there’s tons of competition, there is STILL tiered data. Some places just still have the option of unlimited, but you’ll pay for it, and there are lesser tiers for less money.

Dollar Man

Sprint is using the thumbrule of anti-captalist way… if you are not fit to win, make other loose…

Anonymous

Nice use of the “everybody who doesn’t agree with me is un-American” argument. You should get a job as a Fox News commentator.

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

What came loose?

Anonymous

Does anybody seriously think at&t will drop prices if they buy t-mobile?? Last time at&t (cingular at that time) bought a competitor they forced all customers to switch to one of their current plans. This meant higher prices for all those customers coming over from the new acquisition.

All of the data/text/upgrade fees have increased in the last 2 years, so what makes people think at&t will actually decrease their prices now that the cheapest competitor is out of the picture??

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

It doesn’t matter if they increase or decrease prices, if you don’t like them choose sprint or verizon. Welcome to the free market (well we are supposed to be a free market).

Anonymous

I was on Cingular and I kept my plan for quite awhile. They didn’t try to ram changes down my throat until it was time to upgrade. If they did, it was grounds for release from my contract without paying the ETF.

AT&T’s prices weren’t that different from Cingular’s. AT&T will also have to honor all T-Mobile contracts. If T-Mo subscribers don’t like AT&T’s prices after that, they’re free to move to another carrier.

If AT&T jacks their prices and enough people leave, they’ll have to look at their price scheme. If they charge more and have less customers, then the change won’t stick.

T-Mobile still has a tiered data plan don’t forget. They just work it differently than AT&T. If you end up going down to EDGE/GPRS speeds because you exceed your cap, it’s pretty much useless.

While there may be contracts, people aren’t married to companies for indefinite periods of time. And people WILL pay an ETF if they hate the company bad enough.

http://twitter.com/mbcls ask me

what a freaking loser! why even bother to sue ATT?
sprint is the last thing in my mind if i want to switch!
if no merger, i might switch to tmobile from att. how does blocking the merger help sprint?

http://www.sakurawalker.com iEric

Because sprint is waiting for T-Mobile to go out of business and hoping to get some of the business from them. Instead of all going to AT&T. It’s an act of a desperate crybaby.

Guest

If company A wants to buy out company B the government should stay out of it………..

http://twitter.com/GRZLA Grizzly Atoms

Not if company A and B are the only GSM carriers in the country. Stop posting.

Anonymous

And if T-Mobile shuts down anyway, AT&T is still the only GSM carrier out there. Still in the same boat.

It doesn’t make sense for Sprint or Verizon to implement GSM. Sprint already tried merging two dissimilar networks with Nextel and we see how well that worked. If T-mobile gets cannibalized, it’ll likely be for spectrum, and perhaps cell cites that could be worked for CDMA/LTE.

Most people don’t care about GSM or CDMA as most won’t travel outside the country. They just care that the phone works where they go. The ones that do already have options on Sprint and Verizon anyway in the way of world phones. It’s also trivial to buy a prepaid phone and SIM abroad and use it there.

Anonymous

Do you honestly believe that if the deal does not go through that T-mobile will just close shop!?! The educated answer is no. They will continue their daily business and if another offer does come down the road it would be considered. It is also highly rumored that T-Mobile will acquire the iPhone 5 in late October or November. If this is true T-Mobile could easily drive itself to the #3 carrier and knocking sprint to 4th as most consumers would prefer T-Mobile’s customer server over any other.

Anonymous

Will it happen immediately? No. But if time goes on and they don’t find someone to link up with, it’ll happen.

DT wants out. Not just here, but in other parts of the world too. Orange and TMo in the UK just merged.

The iPhone 5 will not be a savior for TMo. Had they had an exclusive like AT&T – maybe. However, if all 4 carriers get it, it’s not going to help them much. Might keep some customers who might have left. Might attract some new ones. But it’s not going to do anything significant.

DT doesn’t want to lose money in the short term. However, their long term plan is to get out of the market, and it’s been that way for some time.

Anonymous

Of course…the government should let giant corporations do whatever they want. Less choice for consumers is good, this way they won’t have to think too much as to what products and services they should buy. Plus, giant corporations can be trusted to act in the best interest of the American public. They would never posion the environment, market unsafe products, fix prices, practice any type of discrimination, do business with brutal dictators or cause a global financial disaster.

http://twitter.com/robsleezy Rob Sleezy

I don’t understand how Sprint has so much money to throw away on
bullsh*t like this, NASCAR, and movie theater commercials that say
“Sprint asks you to please silence your cell phones”… Umm… how about
you go spend the money on your own damn network and find away to get
reception to my damn 9930?

http://twitter.com/GRZLA Grizzly Atoms

LOL How about you spend some money and buy a real phone.

http://twitter.com/robsleezy Rob Sleezy

Oh I have some, I have an AT&T iPhone 4, a Verizon iPhone 4, a T-Mobile HTC Sensation 4G, and well I guess my fake phone is a BlackBerry 9930 on Sprint. Sorry Grizzly, I don’t think you can afford to make a comment about my spending…

Anonymous

I know you may feel obliged to brag about how much money you have, but he didn’t ask you how many phones you have, he told you to spend it on a better phone =P

Anonymous

Well if you want to put it like that, then AT&T needs to do the same! if they have to cap you at 2 gb a month…..hows your data plan now? At least I don’t have to worry about overages, and I streamed Pandora in my car while driving from Baltimore to Watertown NY which is upstate. Not too bad for a supposedly “crappy network”

http://twitter.com/robsleezy Rob Sleezy

lol… I’ve had AT&T since it was AT&T, then it was Cingular, then it was AT&T again. So I have unlimited data. While new users might have to worry about a 2GB cap, I don’t.

Acdc1a

“While new users might have to worry about a 2GB cap, I don’t.”

Until they change their minds.

Anonymous

It’s called ‘Marketing”. All companies do it.

http://twitter.com/robsleezy Rob Sleezy

Again, what are they marketing? their “Now” I dropped your call network? Or their lack there of a network? Or better yet, their amazing customer service?! Oh wait, “Thank you for calling Spri….” <– I think she hung up on me.

Anonymous

I have heard people complain about every carrier’s network and customer service. Besides, just because you have an axe to grind against Sprint’s network and customer service doesn’t make them wrong for opposing this merger.

fishkid13

Good to hear. Sounding more and more unlikely the merger will go through.

James Robinson

Poor Sprint. They have bigger issues at hand and THIS is all they’re worried about?

http://www.youtube.com/user/TechDexs?feature=mhee E. Nelson

I love sprint, best costumer service HANDS DOWN. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sprint buys them. Hmmmm.

Anonymous

Sprint actually made an offer to buy T-Mobile before AT&T. AT&T wants the monopoly on international service so badly that that they outbid Sprint by several billion dollars. So I guess you could say that by opposing this merger that Sprint is doing the right thing for the wrong reason.

Bullet Tooth Tony

Actually it was the other way around, DT buying out Sprint. Sprint doesn’t even have the 6 billion dollars to buy out the remaining portion of Clearwire, that’s why warehousing the spectrum will lower their value and they can buy them outright – but AT&T buying T-Mobile will make their spectrum more valuable, further pushing the cost of Clearwire out of their reach… so what makes you think they’d have afforded T-Mobile which would’ve always sold well above the 28 billion DT bought it for 10 years ago..?

Anonymous

Everybody acts like Tmobile is hemorrhaging money but really DT just wants out of the US cell market. I mean they only half-assed it with TMO as it is.

Anonymous

..woohooo.,.I just got a $829.99 iPad2 for only $103.37 and my mom got a $1499.99 HDTV for only $251.92, they are both coming with USPS tomorrow. I would be an idiot to ever pay full retail prices at places like Walmart or Bestbuy. I sold a 37″ HDTV to my boss for $600 that I only paid $78.24 for. I use CentHub.cōm

Anonymous

I’d like to personally sue Sprint for their providing such SHITTY, PATHETIC service in the Sarasota, Florida area. Just a few more weeks and I will CANCEL service and switch to Verizon. I cannot wait. SPRINT IS WITHOUT DOUBT THE WORST CARRIER THAT I HAVE EVER HAD IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

http://twitter.com/robsleezy Rob Sleezy

Don’t worry, we aren’t that far ahead of you with Sprint here in California either lol…

Anonymous

You can always move to another state.

http://twitter.com/drumboy_ Aaron H

Dear Dan,

You’re a moron.

Signed,
Everyone who doesn’t have Sprint.

Sent from my non-Sprint iPhone 5

Anonymous

Dear Sprint,
No one cares

Anonymous

Bye! i’m sure Sprint won’t miss ya’

Anonymous

By remaining silent Verizon is showing their support for the merger.

http://twitter.com/iMarky_Marc Marc Jarvis

orrrrrrrrrrrr they don’t care……..

Anonymous

Of course they care. They just don’t want the bad PR they would get if they came out and voiced support. It is in their best interest that it be approved With T-Mobile gone it eliminates a low-cost competator. It also paves the way for them to buy Sprint and create the duopoly they want.

Ted

robot devil. Don’t know if Sprints assets are all that valuable? Keep in mind, Verizon’s a profit making company, not a losing one. It would be easier if someone else bought them

…”continuing that advocacy on behalf of consumers” on behalf of consumers? This gal obviously is not a Sprint subscriber, because if she knew what a horrible disservice Sprint’s network and customer “care” are, she’d turn around and sue Sprint.

Anonymous

Sprint’s service is not at issue here, This merger will effect all wireless users no matter who their carrier is. Don’t let your dislike of Sprint cloud your judgement. Sprint is doing the right the thing…like them or not.

Acdc1a

I was with Sprint for years with no issue on service or customer care, just an increase in BS fees every 6 months or so. When there are fewer providers you’ll have no choice but to put up with those constant increases.

Anonymous

I never even thought about it liek that before.
anon-web.edu.tc

NoBS

Really Sprint? If you were really concerned about the customer you would have been advocating this all along but instead you are taking advantage of a anti-corporate political environment to further your cause while masking it under the premise of helping the consumer.

Am I the only one who sees through your BS?

Anonymous

What anti-corporate politcal environment are you talking about? The one you hear about on Fox News? The big corporations have been getting away with murder. Their actions resulted in millions of Americans losing their jobs. These corporations lost billions of dollars and the American taxpayer had to bail them out. They also caused a global financial meltdown costing millions their retirement money. Their Presidents and CEO’s who should have gone to prison walked away with huge bonus checks. And now that some people are saying “no” to one of them it’s BS?

A_g_ness

You go Sprint!!!! Heck yeah!!!!!

Reklaw2010

Have lived in an area of Pennsylvania for the last 4 years that has no T-mobile coverage and Sprint only has 1x coverage. At&t just turned on 3g last summer and Verizon is the leader there. For 3 of those 4 years i have been a cell phone retailer selling Sprint and At&t. In the last year my company not selling any non-smart phones for Sprint I have had these customers buying smart phones and trying to use them like computers and they don’t work very well that way on 1x. I just changed jobs to an area that sprint has WiMax and with the supposed into of the iphone to sprint it might be worth it for me to switch to Sprint. But for me this is bad publicity and I don’t think I would ever switch to Sprint because I know what they are doing to some of the country. They are ignoring them!! At&t is at least making an efffort to give it’s customers the service they deserve.